South Middlesex Times

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School student Yvan Yomba and his friend, martial artist Michael Loureiro, are collaborating to equip individuals with skills to handle conflict in various settings. Their initiative, Street Ready LLC, offers courses in conflict de-escalation, first aid, and personal safety.

Yomba, entering his fourth year at the medical school, recounted that he and Loureiro were motivated by a mass shooting on a New York City subway train in 2022. "We talked about the state of the world, how dangerous things are at the moment," said Yomba.

Combining their expertise in medicine and martial arts, they established Street Ready LLC. The business has provided training for clients including United Community Corporation, Broadway House for Continuing Care, Newark Academy, Tutela Training Systems, Woodbridge Police, Newark Police, New Jersey City University students, Rutgers Northeast Regional Alliance MedPrep Scholars Program students, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School students, Aesthetic Temple CrossFit members and the Newark Community Street Team under Mayor Ras J. Baraka.

"It's a way of life," said Yomba. "Street Ready means someone who is capable, competent and safe."

The goal is to act as first responders in real-life scenarios. "Whether that be a first-aid situation where someone's bleeding out or someone's suffering a seizure," said Yomba.

Loureiro emphasized the importance of self-defense knowledge. "We understand the sense of confidence that comes with practicing and learning martial arts."

Yomba's background includes moving from Cameroon to Minnesota at age five and later to Southern California where he attended the University of California, Riverside. He turned to martial arts to build confidence.

"It was like a self-defense tool," he said. "But then after you get past that initial stage... it's a way to be really present."

After eight years in California, Yomba chose Rutgers for its entrepreneurship program and location in Newark.

George Heinrich, dean of admissions at New Jersey Medical School noted Yomba’s commitment to others. "He is just genuinely interactive... that's what I find a lot of qualities about what he's done with Street Ready is tremendous."

Heinrich also acknowledged Loureiro's support for Yomba.

Loureiro described Yomba as inquisitive. "It leads him to finding solutions to problems... his ability to seek out different answers... really help him evolve as a martial artist."

Loureiro added: “I feel I'm lucky to have crossed his path.”

Yomba aims to secure his residency on the East Coast and expand Street Ready's reach into hospitals and other organizations.

"The goal is to continue Street Ready – really just scale Street Ready," said Yomba.

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